Key



Feb. 16,1926. 1,573,536

E. M. BENHAM KEY Filed March 10, 1924 IN V EN TOR A TTOR NE Y Patented Feb. l6, 1926.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE. '4

EDGAR M. IBENHAIMZ, or Nonwoon, 01110, Assrenon r0 THE mosnnn LOCK COMPANY,

or covme'ron, KENTUCKY, aconrona'rron or OHIO.

KEY.

Application filed March 10, 1924. Serial at. 698,057.

-T0'aZZ whom, it may concern:-

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. BENHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keys, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates" to keys, .and more particularly relates to keys which have removable number plates, whereby each key is identified by. a number and the number may be changed by removing the number plate and substituting another plate having a different numbbr.

' The principal object of my invention is to provide a key having a removable and replaceable number plate, and a key in which such number plate is normally held in p osi tion firmly and securely. A further object of my invention is to provide a key of the above character which is simple and durable in construction and attractive in appearance. Other objects of my invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and-il-,

lustrating one embodiment of my invention. Referring to the drawings, 'Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the key with the number plate in position thereon; Fig. 2 is a sectional viewtaken on the line2'-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the head portion of the key with the number plate removed; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the number plate. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 3%

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a key 1 having a head 2 and. a number plate 3 removablysecured to the head 2 by means of a small screw 4, such as 'a watch screw. The head 2 has a hole' 5 and thenumber plate 3 has a hole 6 aligning with the hole 5 to accommodate the key for being secured to a key ring or hung from a nail or hook or the like.

"gaging this screw with The'h'ea'd 2 is provided on one side with a recess 7 which is bounded by a flange 8, and the number plate 3 is adaptedto be received in this recess 7, where it may be held by means of the screw 4, which extends through a suitable hole 9 in the head 2 and into engagement with a threaded hole 10 in the number plate 3, Preferably, the thick ness of the number plate 3' is such that when it is seated in the recess, its outer surface will be flush with the flange 8 of the head.

The recess 7 and number plate 3 -may be made in various diflerent corresponding shapes. As illustrated, recess 7 and the number plate 3 are circular.

In a key of the character described, a number plate may easily be removed and anew one substituted by unscrewing the screw 4 from. the plate to be removed, and by enin the recess 7; Instead of, as shown, conditioning thekey portion which comprises the head for the association therewithfof a removable number plate, other portions of the key may be so conditioned.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely diflerent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What I claim is A key of the character described and hav ing a head, a recess on one side of the head, and a flange about said recess a' separate number plate shaped to fit in said recess flush 'with said flange, and a screw'for removably securing said plate in said recess, the head of the key and said plate having aligned perforations.

This speci March, 1924.

EDGAR M. BENHAM.

another plate placed fication signed this 4thday of 

